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Macarius the Great

This is the mark of Christianity--however much a man toils, and however many righteousnesses he performs, to feel that he has done nothing, and in fasting to

Message 1 of 9
, Feb 25, 2010

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This is the mark of Christianity--however much a man toils, and however many righteousnesses he performs, to feel that he has done nothing, and in fasting to say, "This is not fasting," and in praying, "This is not prayer," and in perseverance at prayer, "I have shown no perseverance; I am only just beginning to practice and to take pains"; and even if he is righteous before God, he should say, "I am not righteous, not I; I do not take pains, but only make a beginning every day."

Macarius the Great
Pseudo-Macarius: The Fifty Spiritual Homilies and the Great Letter

Mark Sedrak

O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have done nothing good before Thee. Deliver me from the evil one, and may Thy will be in me, that I might open my unworthy

Message 2 of 9
, Mar 9, 2011

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O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have done nothing good before Thee. Deliver me from the evil one, and may Thy will be in me, that I might open my unworthy lips without condemnation and praise Thy holy name, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Macarius the Great
1st Morning Prayer, Orthodox Daily Prayers

Mark Sedrak

The person, who has found the Lord, the true treasure, by seeking the Spirit, by faith and great patience, brings forth the fruits of the Spirit, as I said

Message 3 of 9
, Jun 12, 2012

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The person, who has found the Lord, the true treasure, by seeking the Spirit, by faith and great patience, brings forth the fruits of the Spirit, as I said earlier. All righteousness and the commands of the Lord which the Spirit orders he does by himself, purely, and perfectly, and without blame.

Macarius the Great, The Fifty Spiritual Homilies and the Great Letter

Mark Sedrak

A brother once met abbot Macarius the Egyptian, and said to him, Abba, say something to me that I may be saved. The old man said, Go to the burying-ground

Message 4 of 9
, Oct 24, 2012

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A brother once met abbot Macarius the Egyptian, and said to him, ' Abba, say
something to me that I may be saved.' The old man said, 'Go to the
burying-ground and revile the dead.' The brother went, and reviled them, and
threw stones at the
m, and came and reported to the old man. He said to him, ' Did they not answer
thee? ‘He said, 'No.' The old man said, 'Go again tomorrow and praise them.' So
the brother went, and praised them, calling them apostles, and saints, and
righteous men, and came to the old man, and said, ' I praised them.' And he said
to him, ' Did they answer? ' The brother said, No.' The old man said, 'For as
much as you insulted them, they answered nothing, and for as much as you praised
them, and they said nothing to you. If you want to be saved, become dead like
them. Think nothing of the wrongs done by men, nor of their praise, any more
than the dead do and you may be saved.'

Abba Macarius was met on the road by the devil, who struck him repeated with a scythe, to no avail. The devil finally exclaimed, What is your power, Macarius,

Message 6 of 9
, Apr 17, 2013

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Abba Macarius was met on the road by the devil, who struck him repeated with a scythe, to no avail. The devil finally exclaimed, What is your power, Macarius, that makes me powerless against you? all that you do, I do too. You fast, so do I; you keep vigil, and I do not sleep at all. In one thing only do you beat me. When Abba Macarius asked what that could be, the devil replied, Your humility.
Because of that I can do nothing against you.�